The music of Alex Stephenson has been described as “masterfully orchestrated” and exhibiting “sonic beauty” (San Diego Union-Tribune). His works draw in equal parts from a deep-rooted lyrical spirit, a fascination with the science of sound perception, and a love of music both old and new. With each project, he intertwines these diverse influences in novel ways, curating sonic worlds that feel simultaneously fresh and familiar.

His music has been commissioned and presented by the Tanglewood Music Center, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Breckenridge Music Festival, Royaumont Voix Nouvelles Festival, ISCM World New Music Days, Composers Conference, and the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, and have been heard at numerous other venues and institutions across the United States and in Europe. Recent and upcoming collaborators include the Bergamot Quartet, Duo Axis, Flux Quartet, Grossman Ensemble at the Chicago Center for Contemporary Composition, and the La Jolla Symphony. Recent honors include the Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

An equally committed educator, Alex is currently Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Illinois State University, where he teaches composition, theory, orchestration, and electronic music. Previously, as a doctoral candidate at UC San Diego, he received the university-wide Barbara and Paul Saltman Excellent Teaching Award.

He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California San Diego, an M.A. from the Eastman School of Music, a B.A. from the University of Chicago, and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, as a US-UK Fulbright Scholar.

Bio current as of 03.03.26
Photo credit: Jessica C. Flores